The Insane Success of Indie Games and the Industry's Response
This article discusses the rising success of indie games, exemplified by the title Schedule One, and the challenges they face in an industry often dominated by large publishers and risk-averse investors. The core argument is that the current system, while offering resources, can stifle innovation and creativity, leading to potential conflicts and legal challenges for indie developers.
An Idea: A Dedicated Indie Game Category on Twitch
One intriguing suggestion is the creation of a dedicated indie game category on Twitch. This category could have specific criteria for inclusion, providing a collective boost to indie games as a whole. This idea warrants further consideration and refinement, but its potential to elevate indie games is significant.
The Rise of Indie Game Success
It's becoming increasingly common for indie games to achieve massive success, even surpassing AAA titles in player numbers and sales. These games are often made by single developers or small teams, who deliver compelling experiences that resonate with players. Schedule One is a prime example, quickly climbing the Steam charts and outperforming major releases. Other notable examples include Undertale, Stardew Valley, Vampire Survivors, Valheim, and Palworld.
Schedule One: A Case Study
Schedule One, developed by Tyler, an independent developer from Sydney, Australia, is a crafting sim with a unique twist: players take on the role of a small-time dealer. The game's success is attributed to several factors:
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Engaging Gameplay Loop: The crafting and social progression systems are deep and rewarding.
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Player Freedom: Players can choose their own playstyle, whether it's methodical resource management or rapid scaling.
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Seamless Integration: The game seamlessly transitions between production and social progression.
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Unique Theme and Presentation: The game's absurd humor and crude art style add to its charm.
The game is also praised for its accessibility and focus on core gameplay, a refreshing contrast to the bloated and overproduced nature of many AAA titles. It provides hundreds of hours of content for only $20, a testament to its value.
The Publisher Problem and IP Disputes
The success of indie games like Schedule One can attract unwanted attention from larger publishers, particularly when they perceive a threat to their established IPs. In the case of Schedule One, Movie Games SA, the publisher of the Drug Dealer Simulator series, initiated an investigation into potential IP infringement and unfair competition.
This sparked controversy and debate within the gaming community and negative reviews for Drug Dealer Simulator as players perceived it as an attempt to stifle innovation. The developer of the simulator stated publicly that they had no knowledge of this plan and are distancing themselves from it.
The investigation, despite claims that it was a standard legal procedure, raises concerns about the industry's tendency to protect existing power and investor interests at the expense of creativity. This sentiment is exacerbated by other examples, such as Palworld's controversy around copyright and Bellatro's rating debacle, showcase how easily original ideas can be targeted.
The Importance of Independence and Creative Freedom
The Schedule One situation highlights the importance of independence and creative freedom in game development. Publishers, while providing resources and support, can also impose restrictions that stifle innovation and lead to risk-averse decisions. There is a growing need for developers that make games themselves and publish those games by themselves.
The industry benefits from content creators helping new games get on the platform and this needs to be nurtured and taken care of. There needs to be more options for making games.
The Publisher Perspective
Publishers provide necessary functions for marketing and game release for developers who may have limited expertise or capital. But, many believe that the developers must retain creative control and ownership of their IP.
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